Josep Borrell Fontelles, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, announced Wednesday, the bloc will provide Niger with 66 million euro earmarked to back the West African country’s national budget. Borrell made the announcement following a meeting with President Mohamed Bazoum. He also argued that the support could be hiked in the next coming weeks and expects financial support to Niger to reach 500 million euros from 2021 to the end of 2023. “We are very supportive of President Bazoum’s regional vision of economic development, which combines security with growth and education,” the European diplomat said. The EU is ramping up its support to Niger, one of the poorest countries in the world after France and several western countries pulled out of neighboring Mali.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 06, 2023 11:09 UTC